Auto Express 1654

I’M always amazed by some of the so-called experts who get called upon to give their views on automotive stories, not least this past week on one of the most important Government announcements in recent years. So when Boris Johnson revealed his plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030 – or at least those without ‘significant’ hybridisation – we turned to someone who could give us an intelligent view on the subject. Dr Andy Palmer helped to introduce the world to mainstream electric vehicles when he was at Nissan and played a significant part in the launch of the Leaf. Then, at Aston Martin he planned a range of luxury Lagondas powered by batteries. Now he’s working on an electric revolution in the bus…

• Next Civic concept revealed • Hybrid power leads the way Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THINGS move quickly in the compact family hatchback class, and an all-new version of one of the segment staples has just been revealed: the Mk11 Honda Civic. It’s being previewed as a four-door saloon that will go on sale in the US in spring next year. However, UK buyers are expected to have to wait a further 12 months before the hatchback model arrives in the UK. The all-new Civic will be slightly longer and wider than its predecessor, in an effort to fill a gap left by the recently discontinued Accord. It’ll also face up to some stiff competition from rival brands, such as the new Skoda Octavia and the Mk8 VW Golf. To quash any…

DEVELOPMENT of a hot Civic Type R is under way, and prototypes have already been spotted at the Nürburgring. The Type R is outside of Honda’s plan to electrify its product portfolio by 2022, because bosses confirmed that only “mainstream” models will be electrified. As such, the hot hatch is expected to use a development of the current car’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, with power likely to rise from its current 316bhp output. While the new Mk11 Civic has adopted a more subtle overall design, the Type R will retain its wild bodykit and performance-focused set-up, as previewed by our exclusive image.…

• Prime Minister announces acceleration of EV switch • Some hybrids can remain on sale until 2035 Hugo_Griffiths@dennis.co.uk @hugo_griffiths ALL new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned from sale from 2030, a decade sooner than the date originally mooted in 2017. New hybrids will also be banned from that date, unless they are capable of covering a “significant distance” in zero-emissions mode. A consultation is also to be launched on phasing out diesel HGVs. While no clarification has been provided on what counts as a “significant” zeroemission range, new plug-in hybrids will remain in showrooms for another five years, before being outlawed in 2035. The Government has also confirmed it will allow conventional hybrids to remain on sale until then as long as they are capable…

Q CAN I still drive a petrol or dieselpowered car after 2030, and a qualifying hybrid after 2035? A YES. The bans on these dates only apply to sales of new cars. There are no current plans to outlaw the use or sale of second-hand cars based on these criteria. Q ELECTRIC cars are still too expensive, though. Will anything be done to bring their prices down? A CURRENTLY, electric cars are more expensive than conventional ones, but the difference is narrowing – although it can still be difficult for manufacturers to turn a profit on some EVs. Looking towards the next decade, it’s possible that increased manufacturing volumes will see this improve, while a £582million Government fund should secure the current £3,000 plug-in car grant for some time, or…

THE headline-grabber amongst the ‘green’ initiatives announced by the Government was the ban on all diesel and petrol cars. On the face of it, the move should be welcomed; it’s bold and ambitious. Yet the announcement will have been greeted with some trepidation by British car makers, who will need to see this kind of commitment replicated worldwide. If the UK goes it alone, an unintended consequence would be to hand an advantage to foreign manufacturers with less enthusiastic commitments to the green agenda. As host of the global Climate Change Conference (COP26) next year, the UK has an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership and challenge others to follow suit. Support There will also be question marks over how British firms are supported through the transition. The UK is a…